MLB Rumors

Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez allowed two hits and faced the winning run Wednesday against the Astros, but was able to shut the door for his 299th career save.

Rodriguez allowed two one-out singles in the ninth inning, but retired the final two batters with ease to close out a 3-1 win. Rodriguez struck out two batters in the outing while throwing 20 pitches, or his fifth save in as many tries.

Rodriguez has an 0.68 ERA on the season, with 13 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings of work. 

Cardinals closer Edward Mujica worked a quick, uneventful ninth inning Wednesday against the Cubs, after allowing home runs in each of his previous two appearances.

Mujica retired the Cubs in order on three fly balls, needing just eight pitches to end the inning and close out a 4-1 win. MUjica now has 21 saves in 21 opportunities, ranking his second in the National League. He also has a 1.97 ERA in 32 innings of work. 

Pirates closer Jason Grilli's run of invincibility came to an end Wednesday the Reds, as he blew his first save on his first home run allowed.  

Pitching with a small margin for error in a 1-0 game, Grilli allowed a one-out home run to Jay Bruce, the first he has allowed in 41 appearances dating back to Sept. 9 of last season. The Pirates would go on to lose the game, 2-1, in 13 innings.

Grilli's ERA rose to 1.10 in the game, and he still leads the National League with 25 saves. He has 54 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings of work, and has allowed just four runs overall.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel became the third National League pitcher to reach 20 saves Wednesday, as he closed out a 5-3 win over the Mets.

Kimbrel tossed a quick ninth inning, setting the Mets down in order while racking up two strikeouts. He needed just 12 pitches to save his 10th game in a row.

Kimbrel has now allowed a run in 13 straight appearances, lowering his ERA to 1.65. He has 20 saves in 23 opportunities. 

Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon blew his second save in three days Wednesday, as he blew a 2-1 lead against the Nationals.

Papelbon allowed a leadoff single in the inning, but appeared to be on the verge of getting out of with a pair of quick outs. Unfortunately, he could not close the inning out, issuing a walk and then a game-tying single that sent the game into extra innings.

The Phillies would go on to lose, 6-2, in 11 innings. Papelbon has blown two opportunities for saves in 16 chances, with a 1.95 ERA. 

Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell pitched Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader against the Yankees, in his first appearance since serving a two-game suspension for his part in a fight.

Howell entered the game in the bottom of the seventh and recorded the first out, before giving up consecutive singles and being pulled from the game. Both runners came around to score, leaving him charged with two runs in one-third of an inning, in a 6-4 loss.

Howell has a 2.81 ERA on the season while pitching mostly in middle relief. 

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley homered twice Wednesday during a win over the Royals. Brantley went deep in the fifth and eighth innings. 

The light-hitting outfielder only now has four HRs on the year. Both homers were solo shots and he added a sacrifice fly RBI in the sixth inning in the 6-3 Cleveland win. 

Brantley finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and is batting .277. He was 0 for 10 in his previous three games before homering twice Wednesday. 

Mariners first baseman Michael Morse, who has been dealing with a nagging quad injury, returned to action Wednesday during a 1-0 loss in Anaheim. 

Morse went 0 for 2 with a strikeout in the defeat as C.J. Wilson allowed just two hits. He's batting .252. 

Morse is going to be playing some outfield going forward as soon as his quad can stand it. He'll also be splitting time at first base with Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales as Smoak cannot play all three games in a series, MLB.com reports. 

Angels closer Ernesto Frieri earned his 16h save Wednesday night against the Mariners. Frieri was perfect to close out a 1-0 ballgame. 

The closer went 1-2-3 in the ninth with one strikeout. He needed just 13 pitches and eight went for strikes. His ERA is now at 2.61 on the year. 

Frieri has not allowed a run, hit or walk over his last five appearances and has three saves over that span. He's 16 for 17 in save chances this season with 45 Ks over 31 innings. 

Dodgers infielder Juan Uribe was back in the lineup Wednesday against the Yankees, for the first game of a doubleheader. Uribe appeared in his first game since Saturday, due to soreness in his back.

Uribe went 0 for 3 in the game with a walk, in a 6-4 loss. He did not appear in the second game of the doubleheader. Uribe is batting .267 on the season.